Because bonds are a natural hedge of other asset classes such as equities but it means that you MUST favour high-quality bonds only, with good liquidity and without high correlation to equities in order to deliver positive performance when stock markets are in negative territory.

2. What are the asset classes that should be favoured?

In EUR, we favour APP (Asset Purchase Program) bonds (Govies + PSPP + CSPP), i.e. bonds bought by the ECB (EUR 80 billion/month) and in USD, we stay overweight long US Treasuries (both 30y nominal bonds and TIPS which are inflation-linked). In USD, we also favour high quality emerging bonds (but high quality only). We avoid any kind of bonds which eventually behave like equities in bear markets (high yield, deeply subordinated bank debt).

· QE is proving to be a tailwind for European equities - the market may re-rate EU stocks to new highs in 2015

· With an eye on valuations, sustainable business models are paramount

In this context, Willem will describe how his approach to fundamental research, quality and cash flow, process for valuations and compounding help investors navigate a choppy course for European equities.

Willem Vinke and the EI Sturdza Strategic Europe Value Fund – focusing on quality and valuations
· 95.4% since launch in October 2010

EI Sturdza is a multi-boutique provider of investment funds offering equity strategies for China, Japan, developed Europe, emerging Europe and the US to high net worth individuals, institutions and wholesale investors. The
funds/strategies are marketed across Europe, Middle East and Asia. The business bears the name of its founder, Eric Sturdza, and is part of the Swiss private banking group.